Basarnas Evacuates Unidentified Body in Mukomuko, Bengkulu
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- Basarnas Bengkulu mengevakuasi jenazah tanpa identitas yang ditemukan di perairan Desa Lubuk Sanai, Mukomuko, pada Kamis (24/9).
- Penemuan ini menambah daftar kasus mayat tanpa identitas di pesisir Bengkulu, setelah sebelumnya jenazah kru KM Arupadatu I ditemukan di Pulau Enggano.
- Polisi masih menyelidiki identitas dan penyebab kematian, sementara masyarakat diminta waspada terhadap aktivitas maritim di wilayah rawan.
The Bengkulu Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) team evacuated an unidentified body found in the waters off Lubuk Sanai Village, Koto Jaya District, Mukomuko Regency, Bengkulu Province, on Thursday (24/9). The body was first spotted by local residents at around 08.20 WIB and was immediately reported to the Mukomuko SAR Post.
The head of Basarnas Bengkulu, Muslikun Sodik, confirmed the discovery. According to him, the body has been taken to Mukomuko Hospital for further processing. "The victim has been evacuated and is currently at the hospital," he said when contacted in Bengkulu City.
The evacuation involved the rescue team of the Mukomuko SAR Post together with the TNI, police, the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), local government, and residents. The evacuation process went smoothly even though conditions in the waters off Sumatra's west coast are known to be quite challenging.
This discovery is not the first in the area. Previously, on Saturday (12/9), Basarnas Bengkulu also received a report of an unidentified body found on the coast of Sawang Bengkok, Khayapu Village, Enggano Island, North Bengkulu Regency. The body was then flown using a Susi Air aircraft from Enggano Airport to Fatmawati Soekarno Airport on Monday (14/9) at 07.58 WIB.
According to the Banten Regional Police, DNA matching with antemortem samples confirmed that the body on Enggano Island was Surakman alias Sukarman (60), one of the crew of the fast boat KM Arupadatu I carrying a group of journalists that lost contact in the waters of the Sunda Strait, Pandeglang, on Monday (7/9).
"We are still waiting for the identification results from the hospital. For now, the body cannot be recognized," said Muslikun Sodik.
The case of unidentified bodies in Bengkulu waters highlights the high maritime mobility in the region, especially the shipping route between Sumatra and Java. The Sunda Strait and the waters off western Sumatra are busy routes for fast boats, ferries, and fishing boats, which often face extreme weather. Basarnas data shows an increase in search and rescue operations in recent years, in line with the growing volume of sea transportation.
For Indonesia, this incident underscores the importance of strengthening the identification system for victims of disasters and maritime accidents. Forensic identification procedures, including DNA matching, remain a challenge in areas with limited resources. Cross-agency coordination such as Basarnas, the police, and regional hospitals is key to speeding up handling and providing certainty for victims' families.
As of the publication of this news, there is no official information regarding the identity or cause of death of the victim in Mukomuko. Police urge people who believe they have lost a family member to report to the nearest police station. Meanwhile, Basarnas reminds fishermen and users of sea transportation services to always monitor weather forecasts and comply with safety procedures.
Going forward, the accumulation of unidentified body cases along the Bengkulu coast demands a thorough evaluation of the maritime surveillance and emergency response system. Will the authorities increase patrols on vulnerable routes, or is greater investment in forensic identification technology needed? The public awaits concrete steps to prevent similar incidents from recurring.
